Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Daniel Watts died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Sergeant Watts served with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department for 23 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Sergeant Daniel Eugene Watts died on September 1, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 49.
He is one of 884 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his father and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-793FF7D1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Daniel. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Sergeant Watts gave the Jacksonville Beach Police Department 23 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Watts.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Daniel Eugene Watts is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 81 of 1,008 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 8% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Jacksonville Beach Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daniel Eugene Watts's cause is highlighted.
How Daniel Eugene Watts Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel Eugene Watts is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Jacksonville Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
